Wild Ride: Lance and Tammy (14 page)

Regan was blonde and blue-eyed, but no Lance Hartley.  She always thought he was cute when she was younger, but he was a bit of a snob.  He always teased her to the point of being a bully.  She had the impression that he really didn’t like her all that much, but then he’d tried to kiss her once when they were alone.  He also knew that she was engaged to Richard at the time but still tried.  She was seventeen, and even then thought his way of showing affection was immature. It was something that you’d expect kids in elementary school to do. He was likable enough and a loyal friend to her brother, but not her idea of a datable man due to his spoiled outlook on life.  He was another one that had everything handed to him.  As far as she heard he attended Princeton and got some degree in economics.  He was probably being groomed by his father to take over the company, whatever that was.  She never really paid attention to the talk among them.

“Yes, but Anne is off limits,” Regan teased.”

“So is Tammy,” Lance added raising her hand to show the expensive engagement ring with a lift of a single brow.

She stared at Regan with a smile of pride at Lance’s feigned jealousy.  Yet, there was the lawyer again.  Cool, calm and indecipherable.  Now she knew he switched into that mode when he became irritated or to exude his authority.  Regan had already rubbed him the wrong way.  She’d make sure to let him know that he was harmless when she got him alone. 

Her brother then introduced Lance to Regan then the rest of his groomsmen who gathered around the two newcomers.

“What a shame.” Regan faked a pained expression as Lance was shaking hands with the rest of the men.  “What a lucky bastard.  I would have married you in a heartbeat if your parents weren’t set on you marrying Cavanaugh. That guy has a screw loose.”

Well, she wasn’t going to argue with him about Richard, because he was right.  It was just surprising how many people seemed to think that about him, except her mother. “Like you’d have a chance,” she countered with humor but it didn’t reach her eyes.  It was empty flattery from him. She didn’t dislike him, and he seemed nice enough, but a snob through and through. If he knew how she lived now, he wouldn’t spend a minute longer in her company. She could not vision herself married to this man either. 

He shrugged. “Well anyone’s better than that guy.  I’m glad you didn’t marry him though.  I don’t like him. He wasn’t good enough for you.” His eyes flicked to Lance. “He might do.”

She nodded smiling. “I think so.” She actually appreciated his support. Then he switched back to the Regan she knew.

“As for a chance with you, I can be very persuasive dove.” He took her hand and kissed it. “Congratulations anyway, but I don’t mean it.”  There was teasing in his eyes.

She chuckled because he’d said it loud enough for Lance to hear and even looked in his direction to see if it goaded him. 
He would never grow up
. He was still the same man she knew all those years ago. He was a bit of a clown and that did make her feel at ease around him.  However, he wasn’t genuine like the people she’d met over the past five years. She’d never laughed so much in since she’d left home then she did a whole lifetime with her family.  She was so uptight, and taught to worry about what people were always thinking about her.  She needed to keep up on fashion and gossip…ugh.  Gosh, she really started to miss Sulphur Springs.

At that moment Lance turned back and removed her hand from his giving him a sharp look of warning. “Mine. Very mine.”

His tone was even and calm, but Tammy was starting to figure him out better.  He didn’t like Regan.

Regan lifted his hands in surrender still smiling. “Point taken Mr. Prosecutor. No harm intended.” He winked at Tammy before he turned and walked away chuckling to himself.

Oh
, so Royce obviously had already told him that she was engaged and all about her new fiancé.  Yet, Regan thought he could come over and stir things up anyway.  Oh, the life of a spoiled millionaire. The things they do to amuse themselves.  Part of him probably wanted to see if there was attraction between them, but she’d told him years ago, that she wasn’t.  Some men just don’t take defeat well.  “He’s just provoking you.”

“Another pompous ass.”

She detected the irritation in his tone and wondered if he actually did feel a twinge of jealousy. Oh, wouldn’t that send her heart soaring!  “He’s harmless.”

He squeezed her hand to get her attention. “He’s not harmless.  He looks at you like Richard does.”

Well that ran a shiver down her spine. Any mention of Richard would do that to her but Regan had never tried anything like Richard had.  She started to explain but he interrupted her. “No, I don’t think Regan is—”

“—trust me Tam, I can see another alpha male a mile away.  He spent the better part of this greeting staring at your breasts when he thought you weren’t looking.”

Her mouth gaped. “He
didn’t
.”

“Can’t say I blame him, but he’s got interest in you even though he acted like he was teasing.”

“I’ve known him since I was little.”

“Which makes it worse, because he’s seen you develop into a stunning woman. He thinks he’s more entitled. I’m willing to show him he’s not. I can be a worthy adversary. I’ve already discussed what I want from you.  If he can’t get it together after a lifetime around you, he lost.”

The smile that spread across her face was a traitor.  She tried to hold it in, but she couldn’t. It was the reflection of the intimacy discussed and how he made her feel—desirable. Lance had been very honest and forward with what he wanted. His masculine assertiveness was enthralling to her. She still thought he was wrong about Regan, but what did she know about things like that?  She was only attracted to one man in her life, and he was currently holding her hand possessively.

His eyes dropped to her mouth, and held it for a moment, yet he didn’t smile in return.  When he met her gaze again, his was hungry, his voice deeply husky. “I have to let you know, that when you smile like that, I could drop all what I promised you about my rescinding control and show you what I’m truly capable of.”

Her eyes widened and the smile disappeared.  She honestly didn’t know what—or how she looked when she did that, but it stirred something in him.  Her belly leapt around, thrilled at his reaction.  Who knew she could provoke such a thing in him?

“Christ, I’m going to need a drink.”  He pulled her through the patio doors.

Tammy pinched her lips together to keep from smiling again.

***

The guests started to arrive shortly over the next hour and Tammy said greetings to those she knew and introduced Lance accordingly.  Her parents’ place was decked out to extreme extravagance. There was a large tent in the back of the house to manage what looked like close to four hundred guests.  Peach and white seemed to be the color choices for the wedding and Tammy somehow knew that Anne didn’t have a choice in that.  There were hanging LED lights from the ceiling of the tent; tens of thousands of them.  The tables were covered in white cloth trimmed with lace. On top were center pieces of peach and white roses accented with white baby’s breath.  The chair covers were also white with large peach sashes fashioned into bows at the back that had the ties touch the floor.  Flowers were everywhere, mostly peach and white, but the head table had stunning white orchids.  There was crystal glassware and gold trimmed porcelain plates on the tables.  When evening fell this place was going to look magical.  Then she saw peacocks wandering in around the area and smiled.  Really?  Peacocks? Apparently she wasn’t the only one that thought it odd.

“Peacocks. Now that’s Interesting.”

She looked up at Lance and he shifted his eyes to her with clear amusement and smiled. She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a laugh.

“A little excessive.”

“Yes.  Typical for mother though.  She was probably told from one of the many wedding planners she hired, that this is the latest trend at weddings. They are really pretty though.”

“Until a guest with too much sauce on board tries to pluck one.” One of his brows lifted.

She laughed with images floating through her head at that thought.  Their feathers were very beautiful and she could see it happening. “With my luck, it’ll be me.”

He chuckled and put his arm around her shoulders and spoke in her ear.  “That’s why I’m here.  I’ll protect you,” he reassured.

There seemed so much more to that statement.  It was probably wishful thinking on her part.  Still, she felt a thrill go through her but did her best not to let it show.  She was still so unsure of his affections.

The catering staff all wore the same uniforms as the rest of the hired staff, but had black aprons wrapped around their wastes.    There was a large open bar next to the band that was in the process of setting up, and the dance floor looked like it had just been finished freshly waxed.  It was enormous. On the other side of the dance floor were long buffet tables filled with a spread of snacks and other hors d’ouevres including a champagne fountain.  There was a lot of detail that went into designing the look of that presentation alone. Multilevel platters held a multitude of different cakes, truffles, tarts and other snackable deserts. Another held various types of fruit, then onto the expensive caviar, shrimp, bacon wrapped scallops,

“Oh dear.  This is really beautiful.”  Peach was never her favorite color, but she had to admit, her mother did an outstanding job.  More than likely she hired more than one wedding planner, but still, the final decision would have been hers. Her mother did have a talent in creating the most extravagant parties.  She’d have to give her that.  She knew this would be memorable for Anne and Royce and that’s what counted.

“It is.”

“I don’t want all of this for my wedding Lance, just our close friends.” She found it in her to tease him.

“Your wish is my command darling.” He took her hand and led her toward the bar.  “First, I think you need a cocktail and I know I do if I have to deal with another lecherous admirer of yours.”

It was her turn to raise a brow. “Lecherous.” She smiled.

“It was a kind choice of words.  You don’t want to know what I really want to say.”

No she didn’t.  For some reason she knew he wasn’t used to using a filter but was doing so out of respect for her.  He could tell by the muscle bulging in his jaw that he was clenching his jaw.  Wow.  She was certain she’d never seen him that annoyed. So she decided not to push it.  It took a lot for Lance to show his moods. “You are such a gentleman.” She was trying to lighten the mood.  It worked, he managed to respond with humor.

“No. I’m a lawyer.”

She laughed.

By the time her brother and his new wife said their nuptials, she’d had several.  She still wept during the ceremony.  Royce was completely in love with his bride and she was really happy for him. Melanie was one of Anne’s bridesmaids.  No doubt due to the suggestion of her mother, but she was okay with that.  She looked beautiful too. She was also relieved that she was able to relax a bit and enjoy this event, and herself.  Most of it was due to Lance’s company. People that would normally try and bully or manipulate her seemed to know that he was a presence to be reckoned with.  It wasn’t just her mother and Richard.  There were a lot of people there that were craving gossip about her, but didn’t come directly to her to ask.  Instead, they would do what they always did, make stuff up. Maybe a few years ago she would have cared about what people thought, but not now.  She loved her home and what she did and couldn’t wait to go back.  In Sulphur Springs, if people had something to say, they would say it.  There wasn’t much of a caste difference there.  She loved the people of her town.
Her town.
That sounded more wonderful than she thought.

For Royce and Anne though, her upbringing kicked in and she played the perfect socialite and mingled with the crowd introducing Lance to the wedding guests that she recognized.  Some of them he already knew.  She shouldn’t be surprised.  She was discovering more and more about him every day, and none of it was a deterrent.  He was everything she thought he was. That did not help her infatuation at all.  Even now while he was conversing with one of the guests, she knew she was staring at him with love in her eyes.  Quickly she averted her gaze and pretended to be interested in something the other person was saying.  She really needed to guard herself better.  While she was enjoying these few days alone with him, it would end eventually and she would be shattered.

Thankfully the announcement of the bride and groom’s first dance took her attention, and she wept again watching them. They genuinely looked deeply in love with one another.  “I’m so happy for them,” she said to no one in particular.

“She’s really lovely,” Lance said genuinely.

“It means a lot to me that you like my brother and his new bride.”

He met her eyes.  “What’s not to like? He’s a lot like you.  Really down to earth.  He’d fit right in with our family.”

That
was a wonderful compliment. She couldn’t think of anything better he could say to her at that moment. She looked up at him. “Thanks for being here with me.”

“What are friends for?”

Three days ago, that statement would have thrilled her.  Now it just made her heart sink.

Elizabeth, playing the wonderful hostess introduced Lance and Tammy to Anne’s father. He was a very regal looking man, with thinning gray hair, but a strong broad build.  He came across as taciturn, but his eyes warmed when they landed on his beautiful daughter.  He seemed to genuinely like Royce too.  It was a short introduction because her mother shuttled him along.  That was okay with Tammy because it was more of an effort than she expected from her mother and appreciated the little bit of it even if it was for Lance.